Learn How To Navigate an Unfortunate Crisis

My favorite book when I was a little kid, “Fortunately, Unfortunately.”

Simple premise. The book follows a young boy through a course of a day in which he encounters a series of fortunate, and, you guessed it, unfortunate events.

I’ve long forgotten the litany of pickles he gets in and out of, with the exception of a passage in which our hero has the good fortune of getting to skydive, only to encounter the misfortune of his parachute not opening.

Fortunately, he is freefalling right toward an enormous, welcoming haystack.

Unfortunately, there is a pitchfork in the haystack, inexplicably and horrifying, with the gleaming tines facing skyward. 
 
Fortunately, he sails just past the fork, lands harmlessly in the hay, and is off on his way to more (mis)adventures.
 
I’ve read plenty of books since, but few so succinctly capture the quandary of the human condition…
 
Fortunately, COVID-19 appears to finally be in sustained retreat.
 
Unfortunately, we appear dangerously close to World War III.
 
This is, admittedly, a long-winded way to emphasize that, unfortunately, a crisis is always just a pitchfork in a haystack away. 
 
Fortunately, as professional communicators we can proactively prepare for a crisis in ways that help our organizations land safely in the hay. 
 
Unfortunately, in the harried pace of our work lives, we neglect taking the necessary steps to develop a sound crisis communications plan.
 
Fortunately, Peter and I will be hosting a free webinar on March 24 that will take you step-by-step through developing an effective crisis communications protocol. 
 
We’d love for you to join us. And if you know someone else who might be interested please forward this email!